2: Lauryn Hill. Many women in the 90s seemed to be 2 hit wonders rather than one hit wonders Sybil will be best known for her two almost identical, but equally brilliant dance songs The Love I Lost and When Im Good and Ready. Missy Elliott was an artist the world had been desperately waiting for. The Colombian singer-songwriter rose to prominence in the late 1990s with her unique brand of Latin pop. Riding very much on the crest of the Alanis Morrissette wave, when Meredith Brooks released Bitch in 1997 I think even blind Freddie could see it had one hit wonder written all over it. Lolly was probably the closest thing to the female Aaron Carter yet even more annoying if that was at all possible. Though she only released her debut album in 1994, Brandy quickly established herself as one of the leading voices of the 90s. In this article, we will take a look at the 20 best female singers of the 90s. The album that I Dont Want to Wait came from also had the (way, way better) single Where Have All the Cowboys Gone, which is a great sing along in the car tune even if we never did find out where they all went. When I was elbows deep in whatever Hits not Homework would play on a weekday night. Janet Jackson is one of the most successful artists of all time, with multiple Grammy Awards and Platinum-selling albums. Use this list to research singers and musicians with one name and vote up your favorites! Shes continued to release music and tour in her native Australia and her 2012 wedding was featured in a glossy mag so shes still kind of a big deal over there. When it was announced that Natalie was leaving Neighbours to embark on a pop career everyone assumed shed be the next Kylie. I seem to remember she had a good couple of singles in the years to follow but nothing too chart worrying. She appeared on The X-Factor in 2007 and 2016 where she made Bootcamp both time but never through to the live shows. I was obsessed with the dance breakdown she did in the If video (still am to be honest) and always tried to recreate it (unsuccessfully) in my bedroom. Her follow up single I Need was half decent, but without a mild profanity that teenage girls could shout at the top of their voice without getting told off. Most remember for the anthemic Jagged Little Pill Im also rather partial to second album Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, which was torn a new one by critics. Her impact on the music industry is still felt today and she set the standard for what a successful female artist could be. Here are 15 of the most popular alternative ladies who you probably remember watching on MTV. Her breakthrough album, Dnde Estn los Ladrones? catapulted her to international stardom, and she has continued to enjoy success throughout her career. By the end of the 90s, Crow had established herself as one of the most successful female artists of her generation, with multiple Grammys and hit singles to her credit. 9. Madonna was known for her provocativeness and her willingness to push boundaries, both musically and visually. Hot on the heels of Britney, Christina and Jessica was Mandy who released the poptastic Candy in 1999. Alanis Morissette burst onto the scene with her album Jagged Little Pill, which featured the smash hit Ironic. The album sold more than 33 million copies worldwide and won five Grammy Awards, cementing Morissettes place as one of the decades most successful artists. She held Hip-hop from one end and turned it completely around in the 90s. What she probably means is Ive been a fan of Robyns since the very beginning when she was a Swedish pop pixie, long before she was a cool trendy techno chick. Iconic Female Singers From the 90s | Mental Itch Despite trying to make every wipe their arse with only one sheet of toilet paper she seems can pretty much do no wrong in my eyes. Known initially from her stint on (excellent) TV show Moesha, she did actually start out her career as a singer first. 2023 Indigo Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Just scraping into the 90s by the skin of her teeth but worthy of a mention nontheless. I cant be certain I didnt make up my own dance routine to it, and even less certain that I cant remember it to this day its all arms and largely terrible. She is considered the Queen of Latin Music, and its easy to see why. Christina Aguilera Just scraping into the 90s by the skin of her teeth but worthy of a mention nontheless. Megan Lewis May 2, 2023 The 1990s was one of the most defining decades for music in American history. And every wedding I went to around that period seemed to have From This Moment On as their first dance (and not the good version she recorded with Backstreet Boys). Madonna Artist Country: United States Genres: Dance, Disco, Electronica, Pop Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Sanskrit Popular songs: La Isla Bonita , Frozen , Don't Cry for Me Argentina 3. Her smooth, soulful sound was unlike anything else on the radio at the time, and her first single, I Wanna Be Down, quickly rose to the top of the charts. BUT what sixth form party was complete without all the girls sassing along to Man I Feel Like A Woman and That Dont Impress Me Much. I mean dont get me wrong I was a huge Spice Girls fan, but was also a huge Alanis Morisette fan too, so needless to say rather partial to a chick with a guitar. Her first, and only album Kiss the Sky was summery pop/rnb brilliance but it didnt exactly set the world on fire so she went back to acting and married a guy she met on eHarmony, which i think is dead canny. Her voice and her ability to connect with her fans are undeniable. Her first album Enjoy Yourself was one of the first albums I ever had and I always maintain that if Dave and I were ever invited to an 80s/90s themes party we would go as Kylie and Jason. The Female Singers From The '90s We LOVE Elena Nicolaou Last Updated November 20, 2018, 5:05 AM Photo: Bob Berg/Getty Images. Probably one of my favourite female singers after Madge. The Canadian singer-songwriter released her debut album in 1993 and quickly found success with hit songs from her album. Which is my favourite version of that song ever. She was one of the top singers of her decade and her songs have remained popular to this day. With her unique blend of folk, rock, and country influences, Crow quickly carved out a niche for herself in the music world. Her last album in 2015 was partially funded by a Kickstarter campaign, which is never a good sign is it? There you have it, the 20 best female singers of the 90s. Gwen Stefani was one of the biggest stars of the 1990s, thanks to her work as the frontwoman of No Doubt. Her album Rise is one of my favourites of all time and may even sneak into my top 10 if I were to dare be so bold. But i will still maintain that her first album is pure pop and totally summery. The follow up single Youre Making me High is lyrically utter filth (in a good way) and she also went to dabble in reality TV and collaborate more with her sisters again. She started life on Broadway before venturing into pop and released two albums in 1991 and 1995 respectively but sadly died from colon cancer in 2010. Also, a very important song for any Dawsons Creek fans, I, however, in my pedantry, much prefer second single Tell Me. In addition to her musical accomplishments, Janet Jackson is also an incredible dancer, choreographer, and actress. The 90s saw the rise of many talented female singers who went on to have highly successful careers. I remember in 1999 when Baby One More Time came out and she was supposed to support BSB on their Millennium Tour, but she became so famous so quickly so pulled out (and was replaced by Tatyana Ali instead see above) How amazing would that have been for a support act?! Pat Benatar. Always forever known for her single Oooh Ah (Just a Little Bit) which was, by Eurovision standards, quite the banger, however he second single (yes, there was a second single) called I Belong To You was actually much better IMO. Everyone's Favorite '90s Alternative Female Stars: Where - TheThings Cant help but think if shed known about my amazing choreography things might have gone differently? There are tonnes of other 90s female solo stars that I wanted to reminisce about that didnt fall into either of those categories who deserved to be remembered too.. This page may contain affiliate links. Now this lass was right up my street when she came out with All I Wanna Do. Not to be a dick about it. Despite Christina having better vocal chops, Britney had better songs thanks to the same Swedish pop team who wrote the soundtrack to my teen years. Although the album was decent, Legend was head and shoulders the best single on there. Another one who probably flew under the radar for most people and Im only really aware of here because she support BSB on tour in 1997. Meet the Queens: 15 of the Best Female R&B Singers of All Time - SiriusXM Suffice to say the 90s had a lot of female one hits wonders. I was ob-sessed with the single Legend of a Cowgirl when it came out in 1997, back when I was a boy-hating angsty 15-year-old and eagerly awaited the album that followed hoping this Imani would replace the Alanis Morissette shaped void in my soul. Beverley Knight has released some absolute tunes over her long career yet still doesnt seem to fly all that high on many peoples radars. Was trying to find Imani Coppola legend of a cowgirl for hours after I had remembered the song from years ago but couldnt remember enough lyrics or able to describe video. Kele Le Roc was british though and had the number 8 single Little Bit of Lovin in 1998, which was a strong effort (well, I liked it anyway). Multiculturalism led to a rise in alternative music with the hip hop, rave, pop punk and grunge scenes becoming some of the most prominent mainstream movements. So it appears she has a good song in her every 10 years or so. She also collaborated with Cher and Chrissie Hynd for the comic relief single Love Can Build a Bridge in 1995 and who didnt love that? She was dropped by her record label in 2000 and hasnt released anything other than a greatest hits in 2004. She was one of the most popular female singers of the 1980s, and her popularity only grew in the 1990s. 100+ Best Female Country Singers of the 90s - Complete List With hits like Vogue and Like a Prayer, Madonna cemented her place as one of the most iconic female singers of the decade. Some of the most famous short-haired female singers of the 80s include Annie Lennox, Madonna, and Deborah Harry. Last time I was playing Heads Up with Ang on a train, the clue she gave me for Robyn was Swedish singer that only you like. Music. I loved a bit of Paula Abdul long before Britney and Christina came along and long before she revealed herself as being a a few sandwiches short of a pic nic on American Idol. In the 90s she released the anthemic Woman which started a move of female empowerment which was later picked up and ran with by the Spice Girls. More than two decades after its release, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill remains one of the most remarkable albums of the 90s. Etheridge is a true legend, and theres no doubt that she belongs on this list. Fact fans. Although I found her first album slightly underwhelming, her second was a banger and There Goes the Neighbourhood pretty solid too. These women were trendsetters in the world of music and fashion, and they inspired other women to be bold and experiment with their looks. Stefani had a unique style that combined elements of ska and punk with a pop sensibility, and her charisma and talent helped to make No Doubt one of the most popular bands of the decade. Cornflake Girl was pretty angsty and suited my moody teenage years and when Professional Widow was remixed it made me wish I was old enough to go to Ibiza with my friends. In retrospect, its clear that Sheryl Crow was one of the best female singers of the 90s. She appeared in Reborn in the USA in 2006, where she came across as a really nice lass to be fair and had a failed come back in 2012. Time to turn up the volume and bring out your old baggy jeans! In 2001 she rebranded herself as a rock chick but neither her new single or album managed to sell. Again, not particularly popular in the UK whoever she did appear on an alarming amount of rnb completion CDs (who am I kidding cassettes) in the 90s. Then went into TV, then back to music again. Celine Dion has sold over 200 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling artists. Very much pitted as a rival to more squeaky clean Britney, kind of like a Tiffany vs Debbie Gibson of the late 90s. Whitney Houston is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with more than 200 million records sold worldwide. She found fame playing Will Smiths little cousin in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, where she dabbled in a bit of singing in the show so made sense that she would release an album on her own with the help of her mate Will. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill tackled difficult subjects like heartbreak and motherhood with brutal honesty, and its impact was universal. She sexed up her image a bit for Cant Fight the Moonlight in 2000 and cowboy themed bars became all the rage for half an hour. Again, a fine example of someone where the second single is better than the one everyone knows. 9. do you know how many songs of hers i know? Mariah Carey was one of the most successful artists of the decade, and her voice was truly unique. and who doesnt love singing Your Herat Will Go On anytime youre on a boat? If youve heard anything from a Dina Carroll its likely to have been on an advert for coffee back in the early 90s. She has truly achieved greatness in every aspect of her career, and she is without a doubt one of the best female singers of the 90s. Theres no doubt that shes one of the best female singers of the 1990s and of all time. Biggest pop news in my lifetime (up to that point) so I just flailed around all day hoping that Baby was ok. Confession time now, I actually really loved Look At Me as a single, and Lift Me Up, and Mi Chico Latino. 15 Of The Most Famous Female Singers Of The 1990s - Hello Music Theory She then went back to her guitar-based roots and the world was glad of it, Like my mum, all the best things come out of the West Country. 15 Female Rock Singers of the 90s That Are Unforgettable - Devoted to Vinyl I mean, far be it for me to diss Kylie, everyone loves Kylie, but Dannii was the younger, funner Mingoue sister, especially as she came out with her infections Stock, Aiken and Waterman pop just as Kylie was going all dark and indie. I joined the cult of Madge around the True Blue era which she was wholesome enough for an eight year old girl to be a fan. She could hit unbelievably high notes and had a massive range, belting out hits like Vision of Love and Hero.. A lot of people wont even remember Martine McCiucheon was a popstar for 30 seconds, then again a lot of people wont remember Martine McCutcheon was an actress once upon a time as well, since all she seems to do is flog yogurts these days. These women left an indelible mark on the music industry and continue to inspire fans around the world! I think I preferred Monica to Brandy. Billie was 100% one of my guilty pleasures in the 90s because quite frankly I was old enough to know better. There was a speight of soap actors becoming pop stars in the 90s (Sean Maguire, John Alford, Adam Rickett swoon) but I might go so far as to say Michelle Gayle was one of my favourites. From her duet with Monica on The Boy Is Mine to her signature hits like Have You Ever and Sittin Up in My Room, she proved that she was a force to be reckoned with. Early, curly haired, denim shorts wearing, frolicking in fields of corn Mariah, or gold bikini wearing, midriff showing, bumping n grinding on boats with hunky men Mariah. Her hits Im the Only One and Come to My Window launched her into superstardom, and she quickly became one of the most popular female artists of the decade. Toni Braxton was one of the most successful R&B singers of the 1990s. Its incredible really that someone can be as famous as Sinead OConnor when theyre really only known for one song. I LOVED Billies second album, still listen to it every now and again, love Walk of Life, and Mandy Moore, I always wanted her to do better than she did but really chuffed that she ended up making such a great acting career for herself! Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas comprised the band's most well-known line-up, and they were outrageously influential in the genre. She started as a chubby country star when she released How Do I Live in 1997, which must have been one of the most overplayed songs of the year, if not the decade. 30 Best 90s Female Singers (Most Popular & Famous) - MidderMusic Shit. sheena easton. I wrote a while ago about when youre going through hard times you find a song that you listen to over and over again because for those 4 minutes you forget about whats on your mind. I was firmly back on board for Ray of Light though and maintain shes continued to release good music since then. Dion rose to prominence in the early 1990s with her English debut album, Unison, which went on to sell more than 4 million copies worldwide. Even though she hasnt had quite as much success in recent years, her 90s output is still highly revered by fans and critics alike. She turned her back on the music industry however and threw herself successfully into acting most notably staring in This is Us, which I have to watch sparing because it makes me cry too much. He is passionate about practically all areas of music and he particularly enjoys writing about the music industry. Memorable Track: "Fast as You Can" is about as good as '90s pop gets. She released a second album in 2000 but it wasnt well promoted and she was dropped by her label. Shakira is known for her sultry voice and her ability to fuse a variety of genres, including Latin, pop, rock, and hip hop. These women were feisty songwriters who pushed the boundaries. Since 2006 shes been writing and producing music for film and TV soundtracks and is a Sunderland AFC ticket holder, for her sins. Before that, she was best known as a star of The Mickey Mouse Club and the singer of Reflection, the hit song from Disneys Mulan. 25 Best 90s Female Singers (1990s Female Singers) - MG - Music Grotto Celine Dion Featured Image (Top-Left) by: Anirudh Koul, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsMariah Carey Featured Image (Top-Right) by: WBLS, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsCeline Dion Featured Image (Bottom-Right) by: jenniferlinneaphotography from Denver, CO, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Shes released a few more albums since then, and spoken out a lot in favour of same sex marriage, even criticised the great Barry O for not addressing the issue during a human rights speech. Mandy Moore is one such singer. Nevertheless her back catalogue is nothing to be sniffed at. Shania Twain was one of the most successful country singers of the decade, and her crossover appeal helped to broaden the genres reach. She was never really my cup of tea, mainly because anything she released between about 1996 and 1999 was just so over played. She rose to fame in the early 90s, recording various hit songs. Kylie Minogue. Which made me laugh, but is probably largely true. TLC. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Among them were many incredible female artists who continue to inspire fans today. Last Updated: Since then, she has released several successful albums and singles. She seemed to have one massive hit per album; Dreams (from Find Your Way) Give Me A Little More Time (from Gabrielle) and Rise (from er, Rise) but for me it was some of her minor hits or album tracks that were really good. Her two biggest singles; Dont Be a Stranger and The Perfect Year (both released in 1993) were bore-fests of epic proportions however didnt stop her winning the award for Best British Female at the 1994 Brit Awards. Im definitely in the former category as I feel she totally lost her way after the Honey album where everything was over produced, had too many guest rappers on and she wore far too few clothes. Her wikipedia page lists her years active as 1995 present however the last thing she did of note was 2009 so not that present in the grand scheme of things. He most recent album Rebel Heart is AH-MAY-ZING. She came back a few years later as part of duo Little Jackie who released (another great one hit wonder) The World Should Revolve Around Me in 2008. Melissa Etheridge was one of the most successful singer-songwriters of the decade. A particular highlight for me was the 2004 album Affirmation and 2011s soul UK, which features an absolutely sublime version of George Michaels One More Try. The one thing that put me off her was speaking to Beki from 90s girlband Solid Harmonie (check me out) who told me she was a but of a tit to them when they had to share a dressing room for a show. 90s Female Singers Best Nineties Music - Refinery29 In addition to her musical accomplishments, she is also known for her fashion sense and has been named one of the most stylish women in the world. Stay (I Missed You) form the Reality Bites soundtrack is quite the karaoke favourite of mine, and when my best mate puts on a pair of glasses she looks like Lisa, why isnt that on her website bio eh? She peaked with Vogue and went severely down hill with the Erotica Album but by that time 5 lads from Florida caught my attention for a hot minute so I didnt really care for her sexy antics. I long to one day be as cool as she is. HINDA HICKS! Top 10 Iconic Female Singers Of The 90s - YouTube One of the (many) things that Ang and I bonded over was the fact that we used to have the same Dannii Minogue poster from Fast Forward magazine on our walls when we were kids. The video she did when she appeared to be in a relationship with a cartoon cat was a bit weird though. 100 Best Female Pop Singers of the '80s and '90s - Spinditty Needless to say, Im a fan. In the mid 90s she released first single Flavour of the Old School, which still sounds great to this day and has steadily released good quality soul/pop infused albums since then. Check out Forgot about the World from Gabrielle and Tell Me What You Dream from Rise and you wont be disappointed. With hit songs like I Will Always Love You and Saving All My Love For You, she left a lasting impression on the music world. Monica is known for her soulful voice and her ability to connect with her fans through her music. The album spawned the hit single Candy, which helped to launch Moores career. She has continued to enjoy success throughout her career, releasing several successful albums and singles. Baby. Stefanis solo career has continued to be successful in the 21st century, but she will always be remembered as one of the defining voices of the 1990s. Sheryl Crow emerged in 1993 with her debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club. If I was ever to be a popstar and release and album of covers, it would be all Alanis Morissette songs. Her unique blend of R&B, soul, and hip hop set her apart from her contemporaries, and she quickly became a role model for young women all over the world. In addition to her work with the band, Stefani also released several solo albums, including the hugely successful Love. 5 of 29. 1. She was also a master of reinvention, constantly evolving her image and sound to stay fresh and relevant. Her third album (Full Moon) spawn the absolute bangers What about Us and Full Moon but shes never been able to release an album that sold over a million copies since. Monica is a Grammy-winning R&B singer who first rose to prominence in the 1990s. Mostly known, or should I say only known for her 1995 song 3 is Family. Celine Dion needs no introduction. But that always seemed weird to me, I mean surely you were allowed to like them both. She has a voice that you would instantly recognize and she knows how to connect with fans in an undeniable way.